Ireland Bests USA In Finale 0f New Year's Tournament

                 December 31, 2007,  Wicklow, Ireland:  … After three days of Irish hospitality, Team USA began showing signs of excess as their Irish hosts, in fresh supply of ace relievers, captured the finale and secured the silver cup to rest in sanctity ~ dust in tact ~ in its place on the Wicklow Polo Club's well-stocked trophy shelf.  House rules require a trifecta of victories to claim the prize.  

                   USA's Steve Smith at #1, Dan Keating at #2 and Christer Still at #3 were equally matched by the Irish team, comprised of Dennis Connolly at #1, Nicola Foley at #2 and Michael Connolly at #3 for a nail-biting contest, with anxious supporters clamoring in suspense from the balcony throughout four chukkers of play and embraces of appreciation amongst the players at its conclusion ~ an Irish victory in the tournament finale. 

                    In the first chukker, both teams scored a single goal, ending the period in uncertainty 1-1.  Then Ireland began to show its home field advantage with three more points, not without a confident USA response of two goals, but nevertheless edging ahead by a goal, 4-3.  USA cranked up the heat in the third chukker by shelling Ireland with three unanswered goals to take the lead 6-4.  In the final chukker Ireland galvanized its competitive prowess with three goals to USA's one to tie the score, followed by two untimely penalty 2 shots to determined the 9-7 win for Ireland.

                   The final match was played on New Year's Eve at 2:30, preceded by an exhibition gender dual of 2 on 2, pitting Siobhan Herbst and Minnie Keating against Sean Reynolds and Dan Keating, the results of which have dissipated into the mist.  A lively 'fancy dress' costume party hosted by the Herbst clan ensued to ring in the new year.  The Irish team will visit Newport next July to play USA on their home turf in the Newport International Polo Series.